Invalid{3 s sock-holding appliance

ABSTRACT

For self-serving use by an invalid or a handicapped person, a manually grippable remote-controlled mechanical appliance which functions to releasably catch hold of a sock, align it with the foot and ankle and pull it to a ready-to-wear position. It comprises a pair of side-by-side reach members slidingly strapped together and implemented with squeezable handgrips and sock encompassing U-shaped jaws. Rigidifying braces and a shoehorn are provided to enhance the overall utility of the appliance.

United States Patet Albert D. Ahn

244 Shoreview Dr., Paciiica, Calif. 94044 13,648

Feb. 24, 1970 Sept. 14, 1971 Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented INVALIDS SUCK-HOLDING APPLIANCE 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1959 Silken 9/l959 Ahn FOREIGN PATENTS 633,930 England Primary ExaminerJordan Franklin Assistant ExaminerGeorge H. Krizmanich Att0rneysClarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson 223/lll ABSTRACT: For self-serving use by an invalid or a handicapped person, a manually grippable remote-controlled mechanical appliance which functions to releasably catch hold of a sock, align it with the foot and ankle and pull it to a ready-to-wear position. It comprises a pair of side-by-side reach members slidingly strapped together and implemented with squeezable handgrips and sock encompassing U-shaped jaws. Rigidifying braces and a shoehorn are provided to enhance the overall utility of the appliance.

PATENTEU SEP1 4W1 Albert 0. Aim

INVALIDS SOCK-I-IOLDING APPLIANCE This invention relates to tools and implements of a type which lend themselves to self-serving use by handicapped persons and often categorized as invalid aids and appliances and has to do, more particularly, with a manually usable appliance which is mechanically implemented to enable the user to clampingly attach a sock to jaws provided for such purpose, align the sock with the foot, and effectually pull it over the foot and ankle in a ready-to-wear manner.

For background purposes it is to pointed out here that the present invention pertains to meritorious improvements which have been made on U.S. Pat. No. 2,903,170 granted to me on Sept. 8, 1959. As will be best understood by referring to U.S. Pat. No. 2,903,170, it pertains, broadly stated, to an invalids tool and, more specifically, to an appliance which was devised to facilitate the application of socks and to facilitate the performance of other self-serving tasks.

In carrying out the principles of the present invention many of the component parts which characterize the appliance comprehended in U.S. Pat. No. 2,903,170 are being used. Comparing the present invention with that covered in the prior patent will reveal that a pair of individual remote-controlled implements are employed and are herein designated as inward and outward remote-controlled units or implements. The outward implement comprises an elongated tubular or equivalent rigid reach member having forward and rearward ends. The rearward end has an angularly disposed handgrip. The forward end has a J-shaped portion which, more explicitly, embodies a return-bend and a terminal portion which is spaced from and is parallel with the adjacent forward end of the reach member and defines a hook-shaped applicator. A first U-shaped jaw is disposed at right angles to the bill portion of the hook and has its bight portion fixed to the bill portion. The inward implement likewise embodies an elongated tubular or equivalent reach member which is positioned immediately alongside the first-named reach member and is slidingly and adjustably strapped or otherwise connected thereto and has a rearward end provided with an angularly disposed handgrip oriented for grippable and actuatable use in conjunction with the firstnamed handgrip. The above stated inward implement or member has a forward terminal end which can be manually and controllably shifted from the first-named U-shaped jaw and it is provided with a second U-shaped jaw of a size and shape to line up with and properly encompass the first U- shaped jaw in a manner to actuatably clamp the hand attached open collar portion of the sock which can then be guidingly lined up with and subsequently pulled over the users foot and ankle.

One improvement pertains to an extension on the free terminal end of the handgrip of the aforementioned inward implement which is fashioned into and provides a long-handled shoehorn.

A more significant and important improvement has to do with means which is employed to rigidify the hooked end of the first-named implement, said means comprising a pair of spaced parallel diagonally disposed integrally attached stabilizing braces. Experience has shown that the addition of these braces in proper orientation with each other and the adjacent component parts enables the user to achieve the desired sock-applying result with greater certainty and reliability.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. I is a view in perspective showing the sock-holding appliance constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention and with the applicable end of the sock clamped in place thereon and so'positioned that when the appliance is properly handled the sock can be not only lined up with the foot but pulled over the foot and ankle in a seemingly selfevident manner.

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation with portions broken away and showing the handgrips spread apart and the jaws, that is, the sock-clamping jaws separated.

FIG. 3 is a section taken approximately on the plane of the section line 3-3 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the indicating arrows.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the forward ends of the inward and outward implements and, what is moresignificant, how the open mouth or collar of the sock is folded over and clamped in a ready-to-function manner.

And FIG. 5 is a view in perspective and fragmentarily shown illustrating how the shoehorn, a part of one of the handgrips, is adapted to function.

The aforementioned outward implement or unit is denoted by the numeral 8 and the companion inward implement or unit by the numeral 10. These implements are much the same, broadly stated, in construction. The outward unit comprises an elongated rigid substantially straight tubular reach member 12 of requisite length and cross section. A rearward end portion of the reach member is bent as at 14 to provide an oblique-angled handle or handgrip 16. The forward end of the reach member is of J-shaped form and characterized by a return-bend 18 and a terminal portion 20 which cooperates therewith in defining a hook. The terminal end may be plugged and closed in the manner shown in FIG. 4. Also as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 a first U-shaped jaw 22 is provided and has its bight or median portion 24 welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the bill portion of the hook. Inasmuch as one of the features of the present invention pertains to the stabilizing or rigidifying means it is to be pointed out that more specifically this means comprises one, preferably two, diagonal braces both of which are denoted by the numeral 26. Each brace is of requisite length and cross section and has one end 28 superimposed upon and fixed to the return-bend as best shown in FIG. 2. The other end portion 30 is fixedly joined to the terminal bill portion 20 adjacent the bight 24 of the clamp or jaw 22.

The inward implement or unit comprises a rigid tubular reach member 32 of requisite length and cross section whose forward end is denoted at 34 and is lined up with the crotch of the hook. This end portion is provided with the second U- shaped jaw 36 which is fixed in place at 38 and which is of a size to encompass the U-shaped jaw in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4 in particular. Loop-shaped straps 40 are provided and embrace the respective reach members and are welded in place as at 42. This serves to telescopingly join the reach members together. The rearward (upper end as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) is provided with a suitable angular bend as at 44 to provide the second oblique-angled handgrip 46. The free or terminal end of the handgrip 46 is provided with a suitable angled and appropriately formed extension 48 which is fashioned into and provides a shoehorn capable of remotecontrolled use as shown in FIG. 5.

It is reiterated that the appliance shown and described in detail herein is comparable with the aforementioned prior U.S. Pat. No. 2,903,170 and that one distinction has to do with the integral optionally usable shoehorn 48 on the handgrip 46. The other improvement has to do with stabilizing or rigidifying means which, more specifically, comprise a pair of spaced parallel duplicate braces 26 and which is superimposed on the component surfaces of the return-bend l8 and the exterior surfaces of the bill portion 20 of the hook. Not only do these braces stabilize the parts, they are spaced apart so as not to interfere with the positioning of the end 34 of the implement 10 when it is shoved from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 4. Experience has also shown that these braces provide easy-to-see members which assist the user in employing the appliance in the usable manner illustrated in FIG. 1. Experience has shown that sometimes a sock may be so flimsy or limber as to make it a little difficult for the user to check the coordinating position of the parts. With the braces projecting beyond the surfaces of the bend l8 and bill portion 20, they assist certain users, particularly invalids, to achieve the end result desired with greater ease and certainty.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A manually grippable mechanical appliance which is expressly designed and adapted to assist an invalid without aid to clampingly but releasably hold and guidingly apply a sock comprising: individual inward and outward remote-controlled implements, said outward implement comprising an elongated reach member having forward and rearward ends, the rearward end having an angularly disposed handgrip, the forward end being J-shaped and embodying a return-bend and a terminal bill portion spaced from and parallel with the adjacent forward end and defining an applicator hook, a first U-shaped jaw in a plane at right angles to said bill portion and having a bight portion fixed to said bill portion, rigidifying means for said bill portion, said inward implement likewise embodying an elongated reach member positioned alongside said firstnamed reach member and slidingly and adjustably connected thereto and having a rearward end provided with an angularly disposed handgrip oriented for grippable and actuable use in conjunction with said first-named handgrip, and having a forward terminal end which can be manually and controllably shifted from said first U-shaped jaw and which is provided with a second U-shaped jaw of a size and shape to line up with and cooperatively encompass the first U-shaped jaw in a manner to actuatably clamp the hand-attachedopen collar portion of the sock which is to be guidingly lined up with and subsequently pulled over the users foot and ankle by the invalid user, said rigidifying means comprising at least one brace, said brace spanning the crotch portion of the hook and having one end integral with the coacting return-bend and its other end integral with a terminal part of the bill portion' of said hook.

2. The appliance defined in claim 1 and wherein said brace is positioned at an angle which is oblique to the axes of the bill portion and reach member, respectively, and assists the user viewing and lining up the limp foot portion of the sock, whereby to expedite the steps that are necessarily followed in handling both the sock and the adjacent components of the appliance.

3. The appliance defined in claim 1, and wherein said rigidifying means comprises a pair of spaced parallel oblique-angled stabilizing braces spanning the crotch portion of said hook and having their ends integrally joined with exterior surfaces of said retum-bend and bill portion, respectively, of said hook.

4. The appliance defined in claim 3, and wherein said handgrips are positioned at angles oblique to the axes of the respectively cooperable reach members, the second-named handgrip having a free terminal end provided with an extending blade and said blade being fashioned into and providing a long-handled shoehorn. 

1. A manually grippable mechanical appliance which is expressly designed and adapted to assist an invalid without aid to clampingly but releasably hold and guidingly apply a sock comprising: individual inward and outward remote-controlled implements, said outward implement comprising an elongated reach member having forward and rearward ends, the rearward end having an angularly disposed handgrip, the forward end being J-shaped and embodying a return-bend and a terminal bill portion spaced from and parallel with the adjacent forward end and defining an applicator hook, a first U-shaped jaw in a plane at right angles to said bill portion and having a bight portion fixed to said bill portion, rigidifying means for said bill portion, said inward implement likewise embodying an elongated reach member positioned alongside said first-named reach member and slidingly and adjustably connected thereto and having a rearward end provided with an angularly disposed handgrip oriented for grippable and actuable use in conjunction with said first-named handgrip, and having a forward terminal end which can be manually and controllably shifted from said first U-shaped jaw and which is provided with a second U-shaped jaw of a size and shape to line up with and cooperatively encompass the first U-shaped jaw in a manner to actuatably clamp the hand-attached open collar portion of the sock which is to be guidingly lined up with and subsequently pulled over the user''s foot and ankle by the invalid user, said rigidifying means comprising at least one brace, said brace spanning the crotch portion of the hook and having one end integral with the coacting return-bend and its other end integral with a terminal part of the bill portion of said hook.
 2. The appliance defined in claim 1 and wherein said brace is positioned at an angle which is oblique to the axes of the bill portion and reach member, respectively, and assists the user viewing and lining up the limp foot portion of the sock, whereby to expedite the steps that are necessarily followed in handling both the sock and the adjacent components of the appliance.
 3. The appliance defined in claim 1, and wherein said rigidifying means comprises a pair of spaced parallel oblique-angled stabilizing braces spanning the crotch portion of said hook and having their ends integrally joined with exterior surfaces of said return-bend and bill portion, respectively, of said hook.
 4. The appliance defined in claim 3, and wherein said handgrips are positioned at angles oblique to the axes of the respectively cooperable reach members, the second-named handgrip having a free terminal end provided with an extending blade and said blade being fashioned into and providing a long-handled shoehorn. 